Sains Malaysiana 46(6)(2017): 945–951

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2017-4606-14

Penilaian Kepekatan Aktiviti Radionuklid Tabii 226Ra, 232Th dan 40K dalam Makanan di Kawasan Tengah Malaysia

(Evaluation of Natural Radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K Activity Concentration in Food at the Central Area of Malaysia)

W. PRIHARTI & S.B. SAMAT*

School of Applied Physics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Diserahkan: 26 April 2016/Diterima: 16 November 2016

ABSTRAK

Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk menilai kepekatan aktiviti radionuklid tabii (226Ra, 232Th dan 40K) dalam makanan asas, sayur-sayuran, buah-buahan dan lauk-pauk di kawasan tengah Malaysia. Kepekatan aktiviti purata (Bq/kg) diukur menggunakan spektrometer gama berketulenan tinggi (HPGe). Tiga radionuklid 226Ra, 232Th dan 40K masing-masing memberikan keputusan 0.64 ± 0.17, 1.23 ± 0.14 dan 96.61 ± 1.87 (bagi sampel makanan asas); 2.07 ± 0.31, 2.12 ± 0.24 dan 791.51 ± 3.66 (bagi sampel sayur-sayuran); 2.44 ± 0.34, 1.54 ± 0.25 dan 288.63 ± 2.83 (bagi sampel buah-buahan) dan 0.72 ± 0.25, 0.80 ± 0.25 dan 195.67 ± 2.54 (bagi sampel lauk-pauk). Keputusan kajian ini didapati berada di dalam julat keputusan kajian terdahulu sekaligus menunjukkan kepekatan aktiviti purata 226Ra, 232Th dan 40K berada pada aras yang selamat dan dapat diterima.

Kata kunci: HPGe; kepekatan aktiviti; makanan; Malaysia; radionuklid semula jadi

ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to evaluate the natural radionuclide activity concentration (226Ra, 232Th dan 40K) in staple food, vegetables, fruits and dishes at the central area of Malaysia. The average activity concentration (Bq/kg) was measured using high purity germanium detector (HPGe). The average activity concentration of three radionuclides 226Ra, 232Th and 40K, respectively, were 0.64 ± 0.17, 1.23 ± 0.14 and 96.61 ± 1.87 (for staple food samples); 2.07 ± 0.31, 2.12 ± 0.24 and 791.51 ± 3.66 (for vegetable samples); 2.44 ± 0.34, 1.54 ± 0.25 and 288.63 ± 2.83 (for fruit samples) and 0.72 ± 0.25, 0.80 ± 0.25 and 195.67 ± 2.54 (for dish samples). The results of this study were found to be lied within the range of the previous results hence it showed that the average activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were in the safe limit and can be accepted.

Keywords: Activity concentration; food; HPGe; Malaysia; natural radionuclide

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: sbsamat@ukm.edu.my